Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that guarantees the expression of opinions, ideas and thoughts without retaliation or censorship by governments, private or public bodies, or other individuals.
In Brazil, freedom of expression is guaranteed by the fifth article of the Federal Constitution. It is also a right established worldwide by the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Legal doctrine understands freedom of expression as a right that cannot be sold, renounced, transferred or revoked.
O limit of freedom of expression it is in overcoming the other fundamental rights of other individuals. When committing prejudice or uttering racist words, for example, it is not freedom of expression, but a crime against another person who has the same assured rights and is considered equal to everyone else before the law. If the freedom of expression of one hurts the freedom of the other, then it becomes oppression.
The relationship between the freedom of expression and the media it is mainly marked by the issue of censorship. Among the precepts of a democratic country are the freedom of expression of its citizens and freedom of the press. If there is no freedom to express an opinion in the media, whether through repression by governments or economic groups, there is no democratic rule of law.
THE freedom of expression on the internet follows the same rules of freedom of expression in any media outlet, and the same applies when we are talking outside the media: whether at home or on the street. And it must keep the same guarantees and limits. Just as racist words are not spoken because it is a crime, the internet is not used to promote racism or xenophobia.
The Internet's contribution to freedom of expression is fundamental, as it democratizes information and opens up new channels for dissemination. It gives voice to countless people and groups whose positions would be outside traditional disclosure circles such as mainstream media and advertising.
But the internet also makes room for the dissemination of oppressive and anti-democratic thoughts, under the pretext of anonymity and protection of being behind the computer screen, not in a confrontation real. Although laws against this already exist, norms are being developed to regulate crimes committed in the virtual environment, such as the cyberbullying.